1
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a man so vain that he spent hours admiring himself in the mirror
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
all their efforts to escape proved vain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in worthless
having no usefulness
having tired of the vain pleasures of life in the fast lane, he returned to the small town he had grown up in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vain
My daughter’s death will NOT be in vain.
—
Corin Cesaric, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
My vain hope today is to convince my newfound anti-Trump allies (who have disliked my years of writing against progressive policies) to view the current national nightmare as a teachable moment.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The show is built around the spectacle of punishing the excessively vain.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
The only real option is to rope in Harris Dickinson and tell him to revive his look from Triangle of Sadness — ripped, vain, slightly confused — only with more baby oil.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vain
Corin Cesaric, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
My vain hope today is to convince my newfound anti-Trump allies (who have disliked my years of writing against progressive policies) to view the current national nightmare as a teachable moment.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The show is built around the spectacle of punishing the excessively vain.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
The only real option is to rope in Harris Dickinson and tell him to revive his look from Triangle of Sadness — ripped, vain, slightly confused — only with more baby oil.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vain
Adjective
-
But there’s a throughline in Smith’s most popular works — he’s been cast repeatedly as a villain, and usually an arrogant or smug one.—
Sophia Solano,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2026
-
But that poem is no smug cliché.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The metallic sheets cannot stop the damage Echard seeks to impose on her canvases, much like those tinfoil hats that some use in confused, futile efforts to shield themselves from pernicious invisible forces.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But other professors, perhaps concluding that resistance is futile, are adjusting to the media their students grew up on.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Life itself being worthless, all things with it, that feed it, are worthless.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Yonquenide wouldn’t discuss any of it, not even the monthly hyperinflation of some 20% to 30% that made his small income almost worthless.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Playing in this year's Super Bowl was Rockwall legend Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Rockwall community couldn't be prouder of him, holding a watch party in his honor.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The Patriots’ defense, however, should stand proud after Sunday’s contest.—
Doug Kyed,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Star-Telegram attempted to reach Atkins for comment, but was unsuccessful.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Last year, the moderate Democrat took on a crowded field of candidates in an unsuccessful bid to become New York City mayor.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
An empty mount later seen attached to the doorframe appears to match one designed for a Google product.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
As malls have closed because of shifting consumer shopping habits and a desire for more lucrative development opportunities, the expansive empty buildings have taken on a new draw as a kind of postapocalyptic wasteland, much to the chagrin of local officials.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
He is paired with an arrogant young partner (Lou), a second-generation political scion whose personality clashes sharply with his own.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
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In the early years of his fame as a writer, Rushdie had something of a reputation for being prickly and arrogant, but Gibney’s portrait reveals a man mellowed by time and experience.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Homeowners and residents are baffled by the attacks upon their beautiful — but otherwise seemingly useless — plants.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
My deep cynicism thinks this was a diabolical plan to herd young people toward expensive, and somewhat useless, college degrees.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vain. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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